On a Friday afternoon in July, a leaked news report sent England's World Cup preparations into a tailspin — FIFA was considering moving their last-16 match against Mexico six hours earlier, upending travel, training, and tens of thousands of fan plans.
The match, scheduled to kick off at 1am BST on Monday (6pm local time in Mexico City), was the subject of a proposed rescheduling by football's world governing body. FIFA held talks with the English and Mexican football associations after suggesting the game be brought forward to 7pm BST on Sunday (12pm local), a change that would have forced England to play less than 48 hours after arriving in Mexico from their base in Kansas City. The reason for the proposed shift was never officially confirmed, but weather forecasts had predicted thunderstorms and possible flooding on Sunday evening in Mexico City. After a day of confusion and anger from both camps, FIFA performed a U-turn and the match remained at its original time.
“Explains the chaotic attempt to change England's World Cup kick-off time and FIFA's scheduling powers.”
FIFA's power to make such changes is enshrined in its regulations for the 2026 World Cup, which give it the right to "cancel, reschedule or relocate" matches "at its sole discretion". This authority is rarely exercised so close to a game. The incident follows a previous weather-related delay: Mexico's last-32 win over Ecuador was held up by an hour after a vicious electric storm, and four people died after that match amid crowd disturbances in Mexico City. England's FA and their Mexican counterparts were both caught off guard. The FA had not been informed before reports emerged, and Mexico manager Javier Aguirre publicly criticised the idea, calling it "a kick in the stomach". England manager Thomas Tuchel, who had already urged parents to let children stay up to watch, said the disruption was far from ideal.
For UK readers, the knock-on effects are significant. The government granted pubs special permission to stay open until 5am on Monday morning, though many, including nearly all Wetherspoons branches, chose not to take it up. Some schools announced they would let pupils arrive late or show a recorded screening of the match. The BBC, which is broadcasting the game, introduced a "Stay Up or Catch Up" option for fans. Meanwhile, police chiefs expressed concern about late-night crowds, and the government ruled out an extra bank holiday to help fans recover. Those travelling to Mexico faced expensive last-minute changes to flights and accommodation.
Q: Why did FIFA want to change the kick-off time? A: The proposed change was reportedly due to forecasts of thunderstorms and flooding in Mexico City on Sunday evening. FIFA did not provide an official explanation, but Mexico's previous match was delayed an hour by a storm, and the risk of severe weather played a role.
Q: What power does FIFA have over match scheduling? A: FIFA regulations for the 2026 World Cup state it has the right to "cancel, reschedule or relocate" matches at its "sole discretion". This gives it broad authority, but the late nature of this proposal caused anger among teams, fans, and broadcasters.
Q: How did fans and officials react? A: Both England and Mexican football associations were angered by the lack of consultation. England's players had already finished training when news broke, and the FA felt left in the dark. Mexico's manager said the change would hit like "a kick in the stomach". Fans faced uncertainty over travel and viewing plans, and many had already booked time off work or made arrangements for the 1am kick-off.
What happens next? The match will go ahead as scheduled at 1am BST on Monday, with coverage on BBC TV, iPlayer, and radio. The weather remains uncertain, and a delay during the game is still possible. If England win, they will face Brazil in the quarter-finals. The controversy has raised questions about FIFA's communication and decision-making, and may prompt earlier consultation in future tournaments.